Biaggi - A long crooked life finally ends at 97

You don't know this guy.

Most New Yorkers don't even remember this guy. But what's interesting about Mario Biaggi is how a corrupt politician can be so shameless.

Today's news in America is about Obama telling a loudmouth dickless Spic illegal alien "You outta be ashamed of yourself" for rudely demanding attention from him instead of waiting his/her turn.

Today's news in Great Britain is how the obnoxious Royals want millions to redecorate their mansions while odious politicians voted themselves 10% pay raises and announced massive cuts in services for the commoners.

This is nothing new. Lemme tell you what this fuckin' Biaggi got away with.

Got a minute?

Biaggi was some kind of war hero. He became a cop. I think he was a lawyer, too. People told him to run for office, and I guess he had the "connections" to mount a campaign. He became a local councilman in the Bronx. In 1973, he ran for Mayor, but nobody was enthused by his Mafioso personality and his conservative views.

1973 New York City was Liberal. No way did they want someone like Biaggi running things.

He was soon forgotten; a long-term hack (like some weasel in Grimsby getting elected time after time). His stupid constituents didn't know any better, and he had local power. Which he abused.

In 1987 and 1988 the smug bastard was so stupid he got caught. TWICE. It was revealed that he conspired with another hack politician, Meade Esposito, to get free vacations in exchange for being "helpful" to some of Esposito's slimy pals. Convicted (and it's damn hard to do THAT when a powerful politician is involved), he was sentenced to a wrist slap of less than 3 years in jail and a fine.

The following year, he got 8 more years for the "Wedtech Scandal," which involved bribes for government contracts.

We all know how politicians easily direct lucrative government contracts to their "pals" in the private sector. That's how the city gets billed $60 for a hammer and another $60 for a package of nails, and why a bridge or road might take five years to build.

This Biaggi asshole had to be really outrageous to get caught.

HOWEVER...he still had power. He was still in office! He hadn't been officially expelled yet!! Finally he went to jail, but politicians don't go to jail for long. Here's a guy sentenced to 3 years, and 8 years. Even if served concurrently, shouldn't it be at least 8 years? How about 5?

How about less than 3. In 1991 slick and greasy Mario was released. Awww. He was in "ill health" they said. It was a "humanitarian" release because he had heart problems. He had arthritis. He was falling down a lot. Even a minimum security "country club" prison was too much for the poor guy.

1992, and Biaggi was a free man. What did Mr. Heart Problems do? Mr. Arthritis?

You guessed it, he bulled his way all over the Bronx announcing he was back, and dammit, he wanted his seat back! He ran against the guy who took over for him, Eliot Engel, but fortunately he LOST.

This wasn't a "given" by the way. Lots of utter thieves and weasels win re-election after a scandal. Stupid people love 'em, especially in low-class areas like the Bronx, Brooklyn and Harlem. In New York politics there was creepy race-card-player Adam Clayton Powell. Charles Rangel is a current example. The guy was caught vacationing on somebody else's money, and having dubious real estate holdings. All he had to do was say "they're out to get me," and his moronic fans believed him. Here's a guy who reps the poorest dumbest people in Harlem, and as long as he wanders around shaking hands and smiling at them, they're happy. It's incredible.

Unpleasant, thug-like and ultimately corrupt, Biaggi was still admired by ignorant Italians in the Bronx, where he lived out his days on his various pensions. I hadn't heard his fucking name in at least 30 years. He was, I'm sure, eating plenty of pasta and enjoying plenty of vacations, and waving to everyone on the street. "Hiya Mario! Wish you were mayor now!" "Ayyy, nice ta hear!"

Proof of this was a puff piece on him when he turned 90. He was celebrated as a nostalgia item. "Gee, remember that guy running for mayor?" Nice looking fellow. Aw, he has trouble walking now, but he's alert. And gee, he claims he was INNOCENT. And when asked for words to put on his tombstone, he offered two: "He cared." Awwwwwwwwwwwwwww.

Just what kind of eggplant he was at 97, I have no idea. But Yuppie/Hippie scum who think there's such a thing as "Karma" could probably invetigate this guy's life and understand that the scandals didn't affect him that much, and although he didn't get to be mayor, and didn't lounge around in public office quite as long as he wanted, he did awwww right. He had plenty of pals tellin' him, "Ya did GOOD."